THE LATE MR W. J. T. CLARKE.

Evening Star, Issue 3407, 22 January 1874, Page 3

THE LATE MR W. J. T. CLARKE.

The | Australasian * gives along biographical notice of the late Mr W. J. T. Clarke, from which'we extract the following > particulars “MrW.J. T. Clarke, the richest man in Australia, died at his residence, Rosemeath, Fssendon, on Tuesday afternoon', at twenty minutes to two o’clock, iu the 73rd year of his age. For the last four years CTs-vke’a health has been very critical. Slowly but surely he lost the use of his ■hxnbp, till last he was unable to move ib the slightest degree without assistance, and it was found necessary to keep relays of attendants to wait upon him day and, night. Mr Clarke’s intellect still retained a great portion of its original power, and he attended to the details of his vast .business up to within a short period of his death. About a month ago his condition became so critical that bis death was looked for daily. He gradually sank, and ded on Tuesday afternoon, having been speechless, for some time before he died. Mr Clarko .was attended throughout his long illness by Dr Motherwell, who has for many years, been his medical attendant.

Mr Clarke, who was born at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, emigrated to , Tasmania about 1830, being then about 29 years of age. At that time any one having Ll,ooo obtained a free grant of 1,000 acres in that Colony, and Mr Clarke, having tho means, selected the property known as Windfalls. Having sold this he rented a farm called Merton Vale, and followed farming pursuits until he sustained the loss of his whevfc crops through smut; after which, he turned his attention to pastoral pursuits. ,He first rented. Lovely, Banks Station, about thirtyfive miles from Hobart Town, and some time .afterwards,Munmurra Station in New South Wales. His health being affected by severe drought, be returned to Tasmania, and about thirty Jour yoarsago took the Station Peak Run, in the Werreba District, id" partnership with the late Mr Pettitt and aMr .Francis, who was " afterwards accidentally ' killed. As population : increased, i be’ found it necessary to move from that locality* •W-d, .aq was . the , usage at that time, he selected 30,000 acres <if. a run iu Dowling Forest, and shortly .after he purchased Woodland’s Station in the Wimmera district} hut the numerous blacks then in .the vicinity rendered so many men necessary for protecting flocks that the expenses ah; sorbed all thb returns. Mr Clarke, during all that period, and! for twelve years after? WRrds, lived in Tasmania, but latterly ho made Victoria his home. MrClarkp invested largely in landed property in Vic‘ toria, and most of his ventures succeeded. Several .of the. best .business.sites in Melbourne belonged to him, and he held land in moß t every Australian Colony He continued to hold considerable property .ip Tasmania, and had a permanent establish' hient ahoutfour miles .from Hobart' Town! His freehold property in Victoria, in addition to that obtained by special survey, amounted tb over.,lOp,OOo acres. The success of Mr pastoral operations is' traceable to ■hia thorough knowledge of catt'e anfl she ep ; . .Mr Clarke was for many years a member of the Victorian legislature,' but resignedin 1862 on going tb England. Mr Clarke never took a leading part iu political or commercial affairs ;. r but he was fqr several years vicechairman pf the Australasian Insurance Company, and recently Governor of the Colonial Bank of Australasia. His family consists of three sons—William John Clarke, of Sunbury; Thomas B. Clarke, of Quern Hall, Tasmania ; and Joseph Clark, also of Tasmania.